Exclusive: DC's 'Mister Miracle' Unveils First Plot Secrets!

Two of the most iconic figures from DC Comics' revered Fourth World Saga, the master escape artist Mister Miracle and his powerful consort Big Barda, are set to headline their own animated series. This new show will be a significant addition to the burgeoning DC Cinematic Universe. While much about the series remains shrouded in mystery, it has been confirmed that Mackenzie Davis, known for her role in "Halt and Catch Fire," will voice Big Barda. Collider's Christina Radish recently discussed the series with Davis during her promotional efforts for her Netflix series, "Below."

The characters themselves originate from the "Fourth World" narrative, a rich setting and cast created by the legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby in the 1970s. Mister Miracle, whose true identity is Scott Free, is the royal scion of the tranquil planet New Genesis. However, as part of a strained peace accord with the infernal realm of Apokolips, Scott was surrendered to its malevolent overlord, the dreaded Darkseid. He endured a harsh upbringing in Granny Goodness's cruel orphanage, where he eventually crossed paths with and fell in love with Big Barda, a formidable Amazonian warrior who was a key member of Darkseid's enforcers, the Female Furies. Barda reciprocated his affections, and together, they daringly fled from Darkseid and his vast legions of evil, seeking freedom and a life together.

The animated series is drawing direct inspiration from the critically acclaimed 2017 "Mister Miracle" miniseries penned by Tom King and illustrated by Mitch Gerads. King is also known for "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," which influenced this summer's "Supergirl" movie. Mackenzie Davis initially had no familiarity with the characters but was profoundly impressed by the series' scripts and King's graphic novel. She described the King-Gerards miniseries as not typical superhero fare, emphasizing its exploration of deeper, darker themes. Davis noted, "It’s very dark. Well, not dark, but it’s dealing with true pain and depression. It's placed in this superhero world, but it's about a couple and a suicide attempt and a marriage and loving somebody and holding the pain that they're in." She lauded Tom King's writing as "exquisite, painful, grounded," despite being set in a world of superheroes.

Josh Hutcherson, known for his work in "The Hunger Games," will co-star as Mister Miracle. A unique aspect of the production is that Davis and Hutcherson record their voice tracks together, a departure from the common practice of actors recording solo for animated projects. Davis explained the necessity of this approach due to the series' dense emotional content, stating, "It's such a two-hander of this couple dealing with a traumatic event and trying to navigate the healing of that and their marriage continuing." She found working with Hutcherson invaluable, calling him "incredible."

The casting of Davis and Hutcherson has sparked considerable speculation, particularly because their real-life height difference mirrors that of their characters. This has fueled rumors that they might also portray Mister Miracle and Big Barda in live-action adaptations, aligning with James Gunn's vision for the DCU's "Gods and Monsters" slate of projects. Gunn's strategy emphasizes actors portraying characters across both animated and live-action mediums, as seen with Viola Davis, Frank Grillo, and Steve Agee. While Davis could neither confirm nor deny any live-action projects, she expressed strong interest in exploring Big Barda in that format, highlighting the character's strength, humor, anger, and traumatic past. She credits Tom King's graphic novel with significantly elevating the characters' profile within the DC universe, making them more prominent for the series to draw upon.

The "Mister Miracle" animated series is currently in development, with an anticipated release date of 2028.